Former County House of Correction Employee Charged With Smuggling Drugs Into Jail

A former Bristol County House of Corrections librarian was indicted and charged with smuggling drugs into the Dartmouth jail.

A grand jury indicted 46-year-old Ginger Hook of New Bedford on October 20th for conspiring with inmates to smuggle approximately $65,000 worth of synthetic marijuana into the facility. Ms. Hook had worked in the House of Corrections for 18 months before resigning in July of this year.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux says Ms. Hook had been a focus of an investigation beginning in March.

Inmates charged with drug distribution and conspiracy are 25-year-old Joseph Housley of Rehoboth, 31-year-old Brandin Barbosa-Mayo of New Bedford, 33-year-old Bestlee Vasquez of Somerset, and 23-year-old Axel Hazard of Rhode Island.

Sheriff Heroux believes this is the largest drug bust involving an employee in Bristol County jail history. He says drugs within jails are a major problem that impacts the safety of all within the facility.

Video courtesy of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office